Improvement in inhalers



w. R. can M B.

lnhaiers.

Patented Jan. 14, 1873.

AM. PHOTOi/THDSRAPHIC c0. N.)f( asBoRNE's PRacsss) TTNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. GBUMB, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN INHALERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,858, dated January 14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. CRUMB, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements inInhaling Instruments, of which the following is a specification:

'lhe invention relates to that class of instruments in which the air-inhaling tube is filled with sponge or other absorbent material, which is saturated from time to time with a medicated liquor, so that the air in its passage through the tube during inhalation will absorb and carry with it to the nasal passages, throat, or lungs the vaporot' the medicament contained in the tube. -The invention consists, first, in the combination, with two inhaling-tubes provided with nozzles arranged to fit in each nostrii, of a central tube located between and communicating with the two inhaling-tubes at one end and with the external air at the other end, whereby an instrument adapted for inhaling through both nostrils at the same time is produced, of a most compact form, and possessing, when in use, the requisite amount of medicated surface for'the contact of the air in its passage through the instrument; second,in the combination, with the two side tubes and the centrally located inhaling-tube, of a nozzle attached to the latter near its junction with the side tubes, said nozzle being used for inhalations through the mouth, or for'the attachment of a rubber pipe when a nasal douche is required.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I is a sectional elevation; 1 ig.Il, a side elevation; and Fig. III, a cross-section of my improved inhaling'instrunlent.

Like letters designate like parts in each of the figures.

A A represent the two side inhaling-tubes, and B the central tube, all arranged parallel, side by side, and, preferably, made of glass. The tubes A are open at one end and closed at the other, while the central tube is open at both ends. The tubes A are provided at their open ends with nozzles a a, arranged and shaped so as to fit both nostrils, while they communicate near their closed ends with the central tube B by passages 12, as clearly shown in Fig. I. c is the nozzle for throat and lung inhalations, arranged at the end of the central tube B opposite the nozzles a, so as to communicate directly with the tube B and with the tubes A through the passages I).

When the apparatusis to be used for nasal inhalations the nozzle 0 is closed by a cork or otherwise, and the tubes A A B filled with sponge or other suitable material, which is saturated with the required medicated liquor. The nozzles a a being placed in the nostrils, the air is inhaled through the apparatus, passing first through the central tube B, and then through the openings 0 into the side tubes A, and through the latter absorbing in its passage through the apparatus the vapors of the medicament contained therein. For throat in halations the nozzle 0 is placedin the mouth, when the air is drawn through all of the three pipes in the same direction, whereby a very large volume of medicated air is introduced into the throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs.

By removing the absorbent material from the tubes, closing the opening (I, and attaching to the nozzle 0 a flexible pipe leading from a suitable reservoir, the instrument is converted into a nasal douche for both nostrils, which operates in an obvious and usual manner.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the inhaling-tubes A A, provided with nozzles arranged to fit each nostril, of the central tube B lying be.- tween and communicating with the tubes A and external air, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination, with the tubes A A B, arranged as described, of the nozzle 0, substantiall y as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

WM. B. GRUMB.

Witnesses:

J NO. J. BONNER, EDWARD WILHELM, 

